Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs
A/N: Oy vey! Sorry for the delay everyone. I wanted to have two chapters for you guys because I did not want everyone to get mad at me come the end of this chapter cause there is a slight twist that I have a feeling that you guys will not like. Anyways, here's the new update! I hope you guys like it. Please review and let me know what you guys think.
CHAPTER TEN: SERVITUDE
When Harry returned to his tree house a few minutes later, Scáth was already waiting patiently on his nest in the main room, which was supposed to be the bedroom but was actually more akin to a living room given that Harry always slept next to Scáth.
Are you sure about this? Scáth questioned, having been privy to Harry's plan even though he had been up in the mountains.
"He will not be there," Harry assured, reflexively speaking aloud. "And I do not fancy sitting around twiddling my thumbs and waiting for him to strike like the others do."
You know that is not what I meant, Scáth scolded gently as Harry strapped on the fur saddle.
Harry sighed, I know but patience is not the key to this particular war. Voldemort will not fall unless someone challenges him.
You said he cannot die as long as those things called Horcruxes exist, Scáth said as he watched Harry strap on his armor. That they keep his soul from dying.
"They do," Harry said, hissing at the mention of the vile objects. "And I might have an idea of how to deal with those and even if that idea doesn't pan out, we might be able to buy us time figure out a way if we can disable Voldemort long enough."
"Talking to yourself Harry?" came Remus' chuckling voice from the doorway.
Harry turned as he tightened the last strap on his bracer. "No, I was talking to Scáth. He is concerned about my decision and reasoning for going to Riddle Manor."
"He is not the only one," Remus said, taking the revelation that Scáth could speak in stride. He had guessed as much from his visit to Alagaësia.
"Listen," Harry said in slight exasperation. "This war has grown stagnate. Neither side is gaining any more ground. Something has to change. Provoking Riddle by destroying one of his bases is the only thing I can think of to enact that change. Unless either of you can think of a better plan there's no real point in discussing this."
"There is if you're planning on going alone," Remus argued, a defiant fire lighting in his eyes.
"I won't be alone Remus," Harry sighed as he walked forward to grip the werewolf by the forearms, a look of gratitude and appreciation in his eyes. "Scáth will be with me and we'll be approaching when no one will be around and when we'll be least visible. We'll have the advantage of surprise and poor visibility. It'll be a quick and precise strike and then we're gone."
"How do you even know where Riddle Manor is?" Remus questioned, trying desperately to make Harry stay.
"The graveyard from fourth year," Harry explained. "It's in the same town and in sight of the manor." Before the wolf could say any more, Harry wrapped him in a strong hug and said, "Go Remus, help the order and put a dent in the mad man's forces."
Without any further conversation, Harry climbed up Scáth's scaly leg. After a parting wave, Scáth gave a mighty lurch and leapt out of the teardrop opening and quickly gained altitude. He quickly angled south while Harry drew the Elder Wand and started weaving spells into his armor to deflect a wide arrange of spells. They wouldn't be able to get to their destination until sunset but they both wanted to spend the time flying together as they hadn't been able to spend any real length of time together in some time. For a long time the only sound between the two of them was the beat of Scáth's wings and the soft chanting of Harry's spell weaving.
I do not like this, Scáth finally spoke when the sun was coming off its apex.
Confusion emanated from Harry. You've seen war before, just as I have.
That is not it. Scáth responded with an uncomfortable wriggle. Something is… off. There were a few more minutes of silence and Harry patiently waited for Scáth to gather his thoughts. This land is stranger to me than Alagaësia was when I first hatched, even with the memories you and I had inadvertently shared to get here. People here seem obsessed with hiding behind masks, as if every move they make is rooted in manipulation for politics. It is worse than the elves.
Harry snorted. An apt description.
That being said, Scáth said, not minding the interruption in the slightest. There is something else about this land. I feel like we're being watched. It is unnerving, especially when I know no one else is around, like now for instance. We are in the air, probably almost two hundred feet, and still I feel like our every movement is being carefully watched and judged. It is strange and I do not like it.
Harry was silent for some time. He had never given it much thought before but he had felt it as well. Ever since he had entered the wizarding world he had always felt like he was carefully being watched but he had always attributed it to being famous, after all that did have a tendency to draw people's eyes. However, there wasn't any excuse for that feeling now. Harry had quite forcefully slaughtered his fame when he slaughtered Dumbledore's shinning reputation. No one bugged him anymore, aside from Remus whom Harry didn't mind. Still, though, he felt the constant presence of someone or something watching him, even high in the sky where they ruled as warrior kings. The more Harry focused on the sensation of being watched, the more keenly he felt its presence.
I do not know what to do about it but I suggest we be careful nonetheless. Harry said with an uneasy note to his voice. His eyes started reflexively shifting this way and that, searching for the unseen.
Perhaps it is someone watching us through magical means? Scáth suggested uncomfortably. Oromis and Glaedr maybe?
Harry thought about it for a second before shaking his head. No. Not only would scrying something across dimensions likely take an enormous amount of magical strength but I cast spells around us after Gil'ead to prevent anyone from scrying us remember?
Someone from this world then?
Not likely, Harry said with another shake of his head. There are spells to monitor someone and track their location but I know of no spell that would allow someone to physically watch another person.
Scáth wriggled uncomfortably but didn't comment. He had nothing to say and neither did Harry. What was there to say? They had no explanation for the strange sensation and they knew not who it was that was watching them. The best they could do would be to keep an eye out for any strange characters watching them a little too closely. They rode the wind currents in silence after that, enjoying each other's company and the peaceful freedom that came with flying, though it was marred slightly by their revelation.
They glided calmly upon the wind until the sun reached the horizon and twilight spread across the land. Scáth roared triumphantly as a surge of energy coursed through his veins. Every animal within a hundred mile radius, which was a lot considering they were over a forest, clamored and screeched in protest. Over fifty birds fled from the branches and their nests and scattered in every direction. Scáth went into a steep nosedive and Harry clung to the spike in front of him as a huge smile spread across his face. The shadows of twilight grew longer and longer as they dived towards the forest. Instead of crashing into the trees, as most would expect, Harry and Scáth disappeared entirely. Scáth pulled out of the dive as they entered the realm of shadows. In a matter of moments, they were leaving it once again and pulling towards the sky, coming out of a forest in a completely different part of the country. The sun was a little lower on the horizon but not by much. Below them passed the graveyard in which Harry had been an unwilling participant in the resurrection of Voldemort.
Harry hissed in pain as his scar started burning. I guess I was wrong about him not being here.
Do you still wish to go through with this? Scáth questioned, sharing Harry's pain but being unable to do anything about it.
Yes, Harry said with gritted teeth as he drew Bhuailteoir. Whether he is here or not he needs to know we are not to be taken lightly. We should be safe enough given the advantage of surprise and the spells I cast to guard us. Be wary if you see green light coming at us though. There is no shield to guard against the killing curse.
Scáth's only response was to growl as they circled Riddle Manor. They waited, high in the sky, until the sun was fully set and darkness spread across the land. On cue, Scáth dived at the house. He released a jet of unrivaled flames that engulfed the roof and top floor of the house. Harry pointed Bhuailteoir at the house and with a silent command, light flashed along the swords length and shot towards the building. On impact, the combined power of two wands imbued with strength from the magical sword, the spell ripped out a massive section of the house, tearing into two of the four floors and crumpling a chimneystack. The minds of the Death Eaters from within began screaming in alarm; even Voldemort was caught unaware and by surprise. Scáth released another torrent into the hole while Harry slashed his sword and severed another large chunk of the building.
The Death Eater's were caught so entirely off guard that several fled as their colleagues were turned into nothing but ash. Voldemort was too busy trying to defend himself against the writhing flames that surrounded him to try and rally his forces or to even try and figure what in the nine hells was going on. That is, he was until Harry's voice echoed over the land in a taunting laugh.
"How does it feel Tom?" Harry called as another section of the house exploded in a shower of brick and wood. "How does it feel to be helpless and trapped? Do you think me so easily manipulated now?" Harry blasted a hole straight through the house, taking several Death Eaters with it. "How long do you think your Horcruxes will last now Tom? Death approaches and with it an end to your infernal reign."
Harry's taunting was followed by another torrent of flame from Scáth and Voldemort wasn't given a chance to respond, as he had to cast a constant stream of spells just to keep himself from burning alive. His concentration was shattered when another section of the house was torn to shreds, this time by Scáth's giant claws. Unable to remain in the area, unless he wished to burn, Voldemort vanished with a loud crack. The building was unable to continue standing up right and started to collapse on it-self. Scáth took back to the air and circled high above, invisible among the stars. For good measure, Harry cast one last spell and the entire house, or what was left of it, exploded in every direction.
Not needing to witness the aftermath of their attack, Scáth disappeared into the shadow realm and quickly reappeared over Hogwarts, where the Order members were making their way up the path from Hogsmeade with what looked like several prisoners. The two of them landed at Hogwarts' main doors, where the members would head. Harry easily dismounted from Scáth's back just as the first few reached the castle. Several of them panicked at the sight of Scáth, not having known of Harry's dragon, but the sight of Harry coming down off Scáth's back and the calmness that the dragon projected quickly turned their panic into shock.
"I see everything went well on your end," Harry commented as he sheathed Bhuailteoir and approached.
"Quite," Malfoy's amused drawl sounded as he approached the front of the gathering members. "They were caught so off guard that we managed to disable most of them without a fight."
"Good, good," Harry said with an approving nod. "Now–"
Whatever Harry was about to say was cut off as he hissed in pain as his forehead practically split open as pain erupted from his scar. His vision warped and he was suddenly standing in front of the smoldering remains of Riddle Manor. Anger pulsed through his veins and Harry had to fight to distance himself from Voldemort's feelings. He saw flashes of objects, a cup, a crown, a ring, a locket and a snake. Harry presumed these things were Voldemort's Horcruxes but he didn't have time to ponder anything. He tried to flee but Voldemort was intentionally holding him there and causing spikes of pain to shoot through Harry.
"You will pay for this boy," Voldemort growled in seething fury.
"Go fuck a Thestral," Harry snapped as he clawed at Voldemort, trying to free himself.
Voldemort snarled and tightened his hold, almost causing Harry to black out. "I don't know how you found out but you will die before you will have a chance to search for them."
"How do you plan on killing me when you can't even find me?" Harry bit out as he struggled against the bonds.
Harry almost managed to slip free but Voldemort grabbed him at the last second. Thankfully, though, in that brief moment Scáth was able to slip in through the connection. He started clawing and tearing at Voldemort's mind, wreaking all kinds of damage and giving them both a chance at escape. Harry's eyes snapped open to find himself lying face down in the grass with Scáth standing protectively over him. He felt blood pouring freely from the scar on his head, coating his face in the liquid of life. Harry groaned and rolled onto his back, keeping his left eye closed, as that was the direction the blood was flowing. Pain still seared through his brain from the scar but he figured Voldemort would be too wounded to launch another assault.
Well, we wanted his attention. Scáth commented with an angry growl, not at Harry but at Voldemort.
He'll likely gather his forces for an assault as soon as he's recovered. Harry said as he sat up took a few minutes to calm his racing thoughts and then worked his way to his feet.
Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't try to launch an assault sooner.
Logic and reasoning have never been his strong points. Harry thought as he tried not to double over and empty his already vacant stomach from the pain in his head. His efforts proved futile and he ended up bent over and dry heaving, using Scáth's leg, which was about as thick as a pine in the Forbidden Forest, as support.
"Harry?" Remus' voice asked. It sounded distant to Harry but he knew that it was only because he was in pain and hurling. "What happened?"
"Vision," Harry explained seconds before his stomach lurched again. Nobody really needed any further explaining, as they all knew about Harry's connection with the Dark Lord. "He's… rather pissed." Suddenly, a vial was thrust into his line of vision and he looked up to see Severus standing next to him holding a calming draught. "Thanks." He murmured and downed the potion. Almost instantly, his stomach began to settle and his heart rate slowed dramatically.
"You're welcome," Severus said, surprising Harry further. "And I would be pissed as well if my enemies had just destroyed one of my bases of operations."
"It's not just that," Harry said as he conjured a rag and started wiping the blood from his face. He was starting to feel stronger after drinking the potion Severus had given him and he explained his attack on Riddle Manor to everyone present, which was pretty much the entire Order.
"He won't let this go unchecked," Remus reasoned once Harry had finished. "We can expect an attack on the castle at any moment. We need to prepare."
No one argued. The Order members quickly rushed into the castle to make preparations. While the Order rushed about, Harry slipped into a bathroom in the castle and continued wiping the blood from his face and attempted to stem the flow from his scar. It took a few minutes but eventually the blood stopped and Harry was able to properly remove the blood from his face. Harry used some of the energy he had stored in Bhuailteoir's black diamond to ease the tension in his muscles from the vision and to help seal the scar once more.
Harry was just about to leave the bathroom when the castle gave a painful sounding groan. The walls vibrated and shook. Harry was thrown off balance and fought to try to remain standing. Before he could understand what was happening, Harry felt something pulling him. It was trying to take him from Hogwarts' grounds but the ancient wards were attempting to prevent it which was causing the castle to protest. Harry started fighting it as well but he didn't know what spell Voldemort, for who else would try this, was using and therefore he couldn't counter it properly. With a mighty jerk that caused the castle walls to crack, Harry was tumbling through space uncontrollably.
After what seemed like forever, Harry slammed into solid ground and fell to his back. Though he was greatly disoriented, Harry quickly regained his feet and surveyed his surroundings. First he noted that he was outside. Next he saw the large mansion, Malfoy Manor most likely, several hundred yards away. Last he noted that he was completely surrounded by what looked to him to be at least two hundred Death Eaters. Hardly thinking at all, Harry had his swords drawn. He completely ignored the laughter of the Death Eaters and focused on the man who had summoned him, they would learn soon enough to fear his weapons.
"Learned a few new tricks since the last time we met I see," Harry said to the red eyed and angry Voldemort.
"Crucio!" Voldemort snapped, obviously not in the mood for banter.
Harry slashed Bhuailteoir through the red bolt and the sword absorbed the spell, making the white strip that resembled a lightning bolt glow red briefly. "You're going to have to try better than that Tom." Harry flicked his sword and the pain spell was expelled from the sword and slammed into several Death Eaters at once. Their cries echoed over the lands before the spell expanded itself.
"I will enjoy learning the secrets of that sword," Voldemort purred as he cast another spell.
This one was the killing curse and Harry made sure to dodge to the side even as he slashed with Bhuailteoir again. He wasn't sure if the sword would absorb that spell as well. He hadn't even been expecting it the first time and he didn't know the full extent of this new ability. Apparently, the ability was strong indeed for the sickly green light was swallowed by the mystical blade. However, the strength of the spell caused the blade to glow continuously and snippets of the deadly curse sparked along the blade. Not willing to test things in this situation, Harry slashed the sword again and the curse went flying into the Death Eaters' ranks, amplified and killing at least three dozen of the shrouded figures.
"Ready to give in?" Harry questioned as he felt Scáth emerge from the Shadows high up in the sky, unaffected by the wards that surrounded Malfoy Manor. "You're not the only one who knows new tricks. Jierda!" He commanded in the Ancient Language, timing the spell with Scáth's mighty roar that drowned all other sound. As Scáth unleashed his fury upon the Death Eater's, Voldemort's wand snapped in half along with most of the man's hand. "It's time your reign ended." Harry said with finality.
He threw Bhuailteoir at the stunned Voldemort. The blade sank completely to the hilt but Harry didn't let it go there. He knew that as long as the Horcruxes existed death of the body would not kill Voldemort. Confident in Scáth's ability to terrorize and distract the other Death Eaters, Harry began reciting a spell he had been working on to resolve the problem of the Horcruxes in the ancient language. Now, the ancient language didn't have a word for Horcrux but it did have a word for soul and Harry was using that as the main focus of his spell. His original idea had been to use this spell merely to summon the Horcruxes so he could destroy them but he now had to alter that slightly.
"This soul is fractured, this soul is broken," he recited in the ancient language. "What once was whole is now scattered. In objects they now reside and death evaded. Bring them here; bring them now, to this sword, this bringer of death, this reaper of souls."
Seven lines of white light shot from the black diamond. One unexpectedly struck Harry in the forehead, right in his scar. Another struck Voldemort while the other five stretched into the sky and over the lands. In a matter of moments the lights pulled taught as if they had grabbed something. They began to recede and when they were five feet away from the source they froze, holding aloft a snake, a locket, a ring, a cup, and a crown.
Before Harry could even think of how to continue, everything seemed to stop. Scáth hung in the air, frozen with a pillar of flame pouring from his maw. The Death Eaters, who had been running around in a panic at the sudden turn in events, stopped in their tracks, several in the process of falling. It was as if time itself had stopped. A sudden and blinding white light flared into existence, blinding Harry and forcing him to shield his eyes. When they finally managed to adjust slightly, Harry found himself and Voldemort surrounded by no less than fifteen different beings shrouded in blinding white light. None of them could be properly identified and they all varied in height, stature, and physical structure.
"You have delved into a realm of magic that is forbidden!" They all spoke at once. Their voices weren't human and the sheer power that boomed as they spoke almost caused Harry black out from pain. As it was he collapsed to his knees.
"However," one voice boomed, unmistakably male.
"Your situation and arrogance have spared you." Another, female but no less powerful, spoke.
"W-who," Harry managed to utter but he couldn't finish the sentence.
"We are the watchers of the lands." A different male voice spoke up. "We govern all worlds. Our domain is everywhere and nothing is hidden from our sight. We are the ones you humans call gods and our power surpasses everything you know. You are lucky mortal, for if you were not in the situation you are in then you would be dead."
"The manipulation of other souls is forbidden among the mortals," another female voice spoke. "Never dare to attempt such a thing again, human, for we will not be so lenient."
"As punishment for entering a forbidden realm, you shall become the keeper of the soul you have attempted to manipulate," one god said in a voice of authority. "Be grateful for the punishment is usually death."
The last god that had spoken made a sound, like the snapping of fingers. Harry started screaming as he felt something being pulled from him. It was a very strange sensation. A part of him that he had never even realized existed had awoken as something began to be pulled from it. As encompassed in his pain as he was, Harry didn't notice that the Horcruxes had turned to dust and in their wake floated five broken pieces of tainted light. Voldemort had turned to dust as well, replaced by another piece of light. With a mighty yank, Harry felt something split from what he assumed to be his soul and his scar split open once more and out came another ball of light.
"For no less than two years," The gods spoke as the fragments of light gathered above Bhuailteoir's black diamond. "You shall be tasked with tending to this soul, nurturing it. If you succeed in your task, you shall be allowed to return to the world of Alagaësia where you desire to be. If you fail…" they let the threat hang in the air. The soul fragments melded into a cohesive whole and then absorbed into the black diamond
"Two years," a female warned as Harry collapsed, his forehead bleeding once more. "It would be wise of you not to fail."
Time resumed its endless march. Bhuailteoir fell to the ground a few feet from Harry, who was dazed and barely conscious. The Death Eaters, who were already scrambling about in fear, began vanishing upon realizing that Voldemort had disappeared. Scáth immediately knew something was wrong. He flew in a large circle around Harry, releasing a pillar of fire and erecting a wall of flame between the Death Eaters and Harry. He knew Harry was merely stunned, if a bit weak, and therefore continued to terrorize the enemies until they had all vanished. Being a dragon, Scáth was immune to most of the spells that the few Death Eaters that had gathered their wits fired and the protective enchantments that Harry always kept around him helped defend against those that would have affected him. A few attempted to fire the killing curse but those that did either burned to ash or missed as Scáth was nearly invisible.
Harry! Scáth cried when he had ensured that the field was clear and those that lingered had been reduced to naught but ash. What happened? His only response was the memory of what had just transpired. They were both silent for a long time as they both adjust to the knowledge of what happened.
Now we know who has been watching us. Harry remarked absently, still far too weak to move.
'Tis a strange thing to know, Scáth responded as he kept a weathered eye on their surroundings. Never have I given any thought to the possibility of divine beings and I do not know what to think of it.
Nor do I. Harry said as he tried to move, only to whine in pain. His body felt like it was on fire. We need to return to the castle.
Scáth gently picked up Bhuailteoir with one of his claws and Harry, who was still gripping his other sword, with another. With a mighty leap, he took to the air and quickly shadowed them back to Hogwarts' and from there to their tree house. He carefully laid Harry down on the mattress they normally slept on and then settled next to him. They were silent for a long time, neither having much of anything to say and Harry being so weak. Their silence was disturbed when they heard someone slamming through the door in the antechamber that led to the stairs leading down to forest floor. The sound of several feet came rushing towards the door and promptly crashed as the door refused to open. Harry couldn't help the snicker that escaped his lips but he instantly regretted it as his chest and throat and face muscles screamed at him.
"Open," Harry managed to croak in the ancient language. He had spelled the doors so that they would only open when someone spoke 'open' in the ancient language, which no one in this realm knew.
"Harry?" Remus' concerned voice sounded, though Harry didn't dare move to look anywhere but the ceiling of branches. Above him, Scáth growled, stopping everyone in their tracks. Through their bond, Harry saw that Remus, Severus, Granger, Weasley, and Malfoy had all come up to his tower. "Harry what happened?"
"Oh, not much," Harry barely managed with his damaged vocal cords. "Just a fight with a Dark Lord and an encounter with divine beings; you know, the usual." Above him, Scáth choked on his laughter causing puffs of grey smoke and flickers of flames to escape his nostrils.
There are times when I wonder whether or not you are completely sane, the dragon remarked, which of course caused Harry to chuckle and then moan in pain. He agreed completely with his dragon of course but that doesn't mean it was any less funny.
"Correct me if I'm wrong," Malfoy said in his usual drawling voice. "But did you just say 'encounter with divine beings'?"
"Yup," Harry said in a sarcastically cheerful voice. "They were the most pleasant of beings really. Got rid of Voldemort and sentenced me to being the keeper of his soul for the next two years. All in all, fabulous beings they were." The bitter tone to Harry's voice told any who bothered to listen that, one, he wasn't joking, and two, he wasn't exactly pleased by the situation considering the history between Harry and Voldemort.
"This is all fascinating," Severus' drawling voice said. "But would you care to explain why you appear to be weaker than a wet straw?"
"Having one's soul toyed with isn't exactly what one would call pleasant," Harry sniped back. "It turns out that a piece of Riddle's soul had latched onto mine when he tried to kill me. The gods were kind enough to rip it out without so much as a by your leave."
"Not surprising really," Severus said as he dug around a pocket in his robes. "If I understand the timeline correctly, the Dark Lord's soul would have been immensely unstable at that point in time."
"Quite," Harry said as he allowed Severus to pour a potion down his throat. Almost instantly he felt his muscles begin to loosen and the constant pain his body had been began to fade. "Thank You."
"So," Weasley spoke up. He sounded hesitant given that the last few times he had interacted with Harry things had not gone well. "Is the war over?"
Harry groaned as he sat up, aided by both Severus and Scáth. "Don't know, don't care. All I know is that Voldemort is out of the picture. Whether or not the Death Eaters continue fighting is not my concern," as he said all this Harry reached up and detached his left arm. The ordeal he had just been through had aggravated the magic that had repaired his arm. "My only concern right now is getting through the next two years."
"Harry!" Granger gasped in shock at witnessing Harry so casually removing his arm.
"What?" Harry sighed in relief. The minute his arm had separated he felt an enormous drop in pain, more so than what the potions had given him.
"I think she's wondering about what happened to your arm," Malfoy spoke up when it became obvious that the stunned woman couldn't speak anymore.
"Got cut off," Harry said with a small sarcastic chuckle. "Thought that was obvious."
"So did I but I think she was wondering more of how it got severed," Malfoy replied dryly.
"Sharp axe in the hands of a tricky creature," Harry answered in a tone that said he wasn't going to say any more on the matter.
Given everything that has happened, Scáth spoke up, projecting his words to everyone in the room, surprising Malfoy into looking around for the source of the voice. I think we all deserve some rest. Particularly Harry. He needs to recover his strength as quickly as possible if he is to hold his own when dealing with the Dark Lord.
Remus attempted to say something more but a soft growl from Scáth in warning had everyone quickly filing out the door, Severus being the only one that walked calmly, though there was a hint of urgency to his steps. Harry and Scáth laid together in silence for a long time, both still processing everything that had happened in such a short time. In less than a year's time for them they had fought in two wars, struck powerful blows to both, and conversed with gods. Such events were not exactly easy to adjust to.
How am I going to do this Scáth? Harry questioned with a heavy, almost despondent sigh. After everything that creature has done, how am I supposed to survive the next two years? For that matter, how the hell am I supposed to nurture such a soul?
By taking it one day at a time, Scáth said softly as he nudged Harry's good shoulder affectionately. These gods may not seem to be the nicest of beings out there but I do not believe that they would have given you such a task if you, if we could not prevail. He lowered his head until one of his eyes was level with Harry's face. Do not forget that you are not alone anymore little one. Two beings we may be but we are forever bound and your tasks are my tasks, just as my tasks, are your tasks.
I love you my shadow, Harry said as he leaned into Scáth's warm side, already half asleep. Scáth hummed happily and curled around Harry. He eyed Bhuailteoir warily before settling down and closing his inner eyelid so he could continue to watch while he rested.
–Scene Break–
Harry ended up remaining asleep for the entirety of the next two days and didn't wake until half way through the third. Upon waking he felt better than he had before, though he was still sore. He managed to drag himself out of bed while reattaching his arm and went to bathe, which reduced his aches even more. After spending almost two hours relaxing in the bath Harry dressed and went outside to the lake, taking Bhuailteoir with him. He sat down beneath his favorite tree with the sword lying across his lap and closed his eyes and started meditating.
Scáth came out a few minutes after Harry and lazily crawled across the ground before settling down next to Harry and returning to a slight doze. Harry spent a good hour meditating and calming his mind from the past several days, being sure to avoid touching Bhuailteoir with his mind. He knew he needed to be calm when he started dealing with Voldemort's soul otherwise he would get nothing accomplished and acquire only a headache.
You're procrastinating, Scáth said, gently interrupting Harry's meditating when he started to stretch beyond an hour. He could also feel Harry's reluctance to broach the situation lurking in the back of his mind.
I know, Harry responded with a sigh as his posture went slack. It's just not easy to think about making contact with a mind I despise and have been linked to for my entire life.
That, Scáth said as he shifted closer so his head was lying right next to Harry's side. Is why I am here.
Harry smiled and sent warm waves of love across their bond, which were returned in kind. After a moment of basking in those feelings, Harry gathered his courage and hesitantly extended his mind towards the black diamond in Bhuailteoir's pummel. Even before he made contact with Voldemort's mind and soul, Harry could feel the increase in power, tainted power, which swirled around the diamond. It pulsed and radiated like a malfunctioning light bulb.
When he mind finally touched Riddle's consciousness Harry encountered no resistance and to his surprise Riddle's mind held no malice, anger, viciousness, or anything else he would have expected or had experienced. Instead, the mind seemed almost confused and lost. Moving carefully, Harry delved a little deeper into the mind and found it fractured and almost completely blank. Not a single memory of the soul's life as either Tom Riddle or Lord Voldemort existed within the mind that swirled in the black diamond.
That's… odd. Harry said in confusion when he had safely withdrawn from the mind to a safe distance where he wouldn't be heard by Riddle.
Did the gods do it? Scáth questioned. He had delved into the mind beside Harry so as to aid him should it be needed if Riddle had attacked upon noticing Harry's presence.
I don't think so, Harry said with a mild head shake as he looked down at the seemingly innocent looking gem in his sword pummel. I see no reason as to why they would have done such a thing. They don't exactly strike me as the kind of beings to give favor. No. I think this might be a result of all of Riddle's soul pieces merging back into a cohesive whole. Harry paused briefly to gather his thoughts before he continued. I read up on Horcruxes and it said that the only way to return a soul fragment to where it belongs is if the person feels regret and remorse for what they have done. Now, I've no doubt that the gods could've simply forced the soul pieces back together but it's quite possible that the shock of the experience forced Riddle to feel everything he had done. In order to remain intact his mind shoved it all away, essentially creating a blank slate, a mind that knows nothing of its past or the world around it.
Fascinating, Scáth said in an impressed voice. Before either of them could continue they were interrupted by someone else.
"Harry?" Granger called softly as she hesitantly approached where Harry sat beneath the tree by the lake. Harry looked up to see her fearfully skittering Scáth's girth in order to stand at a respectable angle to Harry. "How're you doing?"
"Better the other night," Harry said with a slight shrug as he shifted his mended arm. The magic holding his arm together was still a little sensitive but it was settling down. "How is the Order fairing with tying up the war?"
"It's only been three days," Grange said somewhat incredulously, giving Harry a disbelieving look.
"So?" Harry countered, returning Granger's look with a raised eyebrow. "Within two days of my return I ended the wars main threat. I'm just one person, surely a group of twenty seasoned wizards and witches could at least lay out plans for rebuilding the wizarding society and other such necessary things."
"Fair enough," Granger said after a moment's thought. She shifted nervously for a second before she moved to sit down on the grass a little closer to Harry. "McGonagall has laid out small, hesitant plans, but beyond that nothing much else has been done, though Snape and Malfoy have set about trying to ferret out whether or not the remaining Death Eaters are going to pose a problem."
"Well it is something," Harry said with an unconcerned shrug. "I suppose they have a little more time now anyways. Just don't expect any more help from me."
"To be frank I don't think some of the Order want your help," Hermione said plainly as she glanced at the sword laying across Harry's lap. "After what you did to Dumbledore the other day some of them are quite angry and some don't even believe that you actually stopped him."
"Well it is quite a story," Harry said, turning his gaze to look out over the lake. "I'm living it and I can barely believe it."
You and me both, Scáth interjected quietly as he yawned slightly.
"Harry," Hermione said in a nervously serious voice. She waited until Harry turned his attention back to her before continuing. "I really am sorry." Harry quirked an eyebrow at her, indicating for her to continue. "He manipulated me just as he did everyone else. I'm not saying that what I did wasn't wrong but if I had known what he was really trying to do then I never would have betrayed your confidence like that. You were my first friend Harry. I really did think that I was helping you because of everything that had been going on."
Harry sighed heavily and gazed down at the ground with heavy eyes and even heavier shoulders. "I understand Hermione, I really do. It just hurt you know?" He looked back up at her, allowing his pain to show freely in his eyes. "It really hurt to find out thatmy first and only friends had either been coerced into befriending me or were going around behind my back betraying my trust and confidence. I was like you Hermione. I never had any friends before Hogwarts, not one. You and Ron were the first ones who didn't look at me like I was some sort of freak, though to be fair Ron did gawk at me for a while when he first found out who I was. It was just too much to find out that my entire life had basically been nothing but an orchestrated play, especially after what happened at the Ministry."
Forgive her, Scáth said softly as he nudged Harry's arm with his snout. It is obvious that she regrets her actions and like she said, Dumbledore manipulated her just like he did everyone else. The only malice in her mistake lays with him not her. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Whether they deserve one or not is debatable, Harry said, thinking of Voldemort. But you are right. The fault lays with that bastard Dumbledore not her, though I refuse to forgive Weasley. Manipulated or not I gave him several second chances over the years and he doesn't deserve another. Aloud Harry said, "I'm willing to give you a second chance Hermione but you should know that I plan on leaving again in two years when my sentence is up."
"Why?" Hermione questioned with hesitation, confusion, worry, and regret. "The war is ended and you've obviously no need to fear people idolizing you anymore."
"Because I must," Harry said vaguely but continued before Hermione could question him further. "Besides, this isn't my home anymore Hermione. I can't live here with people that will look to me, expecting me to just fix everything that's wrong in their lives for reasons that are completely moronic and have nothing to do with things I'm consciously responsible for. Not to mention I have other responsibilities to tend to, responsibilities I chose as opposed to having them forced upon me."
It was sort of both actually, Scáth remarked absently.
"Oh hush, you know what I mean," Harry said with a half hearted and slightly amused glare at his bonded.
"What did he say?" Hermione asked in confusion, not having been privy to Scáth's comment.
"He was just saying how some of my responsibilities weren't entirely of my own making but I stand by the fact that I've chosen and accepted those responsibilities as they are not based off of something I have no recollection of doing." Harry explained while Scáth snickered in amusement.
"Where is it you're going to go?" Hermione asked curiously as she shifted her position so her legs wouldn't go numb. "And for that matter why do you still look like you did ten years ago?"
"There's my old Hermione," Harry chuckled with a fond smile, making Hermione blush profusely. "Always interested in information." His chuckle worsened when Hermione looked at him in playful agitation. "To answer your question though, I will be returning to the world of Alagaësia, where I found Scáth and once there we won't be leaving again."
"I've never heard of such a place," Hermione said in confusion, her brow wrinkling in thought as she mentally ran through all the lists of places she had ever read about.
You would not have, Scáth said as he yawned, displaying his pearly white fangs. It resides in another dimension.
"You ran away to another dimension?" Hermione said in shock.
"Unintentionally," Harry said with an unconcerned shrug. "I had initially just wanted to run but I somehow managed to end up in Alagaësia."
"That's…" Hermione was so stunned that she couldn't finish her sentence.
Quite shocking, Scáth provided with a slight hint of amusement to his voice. Harry detected something else to the dragon's voice though and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. He had never felt Scáth feel nervous or afraid before. His curiosity was piqued even more by Scáth's next words. I do not wish to be rude, far from it, but I wish to speak to Harry about something private before he continues with his appointed task.
"Oh, uh sure," Hermione said a little flustered. She didn't seem upset, just taken off guard. "It's getting close to dinner anyways and Ron will no doubt be shoveling down anything in sight if the elves haven't provided a proper meal. I'll talk with you later."
Harry gave a parting statement somewhat mechanically. He had noticed something in Hermione's voice as well, something that he never thought he'd hear from her. She sounded sad. Sure there were plenty of other times before he had ran away where she had been upset, maybe even slightly depressed due to an outcome of an experiment she had been working on, but he had never heard her sound sad before. It was a tone that made him wonder if she was truly happy with her life.
So what's on your mind sparkles? Harry said playfully, trying to lighten the mood since he could sense great waves of nervousness and fear coming from his bonded. He merely smiled mischievously when he received a halfhearted narrow eyed glare from the large dragon.
First of all my name is not sparkles, Scáth said with a huff of white smoke.
No but you do sparkle in the sunlight, particularly at sunset. Harry said unrepentantly with a grin. I think I'll give you sparkles as a nickname.
Second of all, Scáth said with a growl that vibrated the ground. Naturally Harry just grinned all the more. I wish to speak about something that has been nagging me since you were taken the other day. Scáth shifted his position so his head was higher up and gazing out over the lake. I came very close to panicking and destroying everything in sight when you were taken and I couldn't reach you because of the distance between us.
"I'm sorry," Harry said solemnly as he put a hand on Scáth's claw, the only part of the dragon that he could reach.
It is not your fault, Scáth said as he swung his head back and forth and lowered his head so he was staring directly at Harry with one of his large, black, gem like eyes that held endless depths of emotion, strength, and power. It was liable to happen eventually and it was something that we should have thought about and prepared for beforehand. It also got me thinking. We could end up getting separated again. No, he said firmly when Harry opened his mouth to respond. Whether you would choose to leave my side or not is irrelevant. You were forcibly taken from me once already and it could end up happening again.
My dear shadow, Harry said sorrowfully with tears welling up in his eyes. He brought up his arms and wrapped as much of his dragons snout as he could in a hug. I'm so sorry but I don't know how we can avoid such a situation again.
I do. Scáth said simply with a hum. It is something that no shadow dragon has ever done.
What is it? Harry prompted gently as he pulled back slightly when Scáth had fallen silent.
You know the word Eldunarí, Scáth said, more of a statement than question.
Aye, several of the scrolls of mentioned it but all they say it means is heart of hearts but they've never actually said what that is supposed to be. Harry said in mild confusion.
That is because it is one of the greatest and most protected secret of the dragons. Only the oldest, wisest, and most trusted Riders of the order were allowed to guard the Eldunarí, Scáth said as he raised his head high above Harry.
Harry could see and feel Scáth's mighty neck flex and contract for several seconds before the dragon arched his neck and lowered his head to the patch of grass right in front of Harry. Scáth opened his mighty jaws as his neck muscles continued to contract. For a moment Harry thought the dragon was going to cough up a fur ball or something but when Scáth finally finished what he was doing, a beautiful stone, about twice the size of Scáth's egg, was laying in the grass. It shone slightly but the light of twilight, a time of power influx for the shadow dragon, made it look as if the stone wasn't entirely solid.
This is an Eldunarí, Scáth said with a hint of reverence to his voice. He kept his eyes fixed on the glorious stone and refused to look anywhere else, something Harry didn't fail to notice. Every dragon has one. It is a part of our bodies that allow our consciousness to endure even after our bodies have ceased functioning. It also doubles as an energy reservoir, like the way elves use gems to store energy. Scáth paused briefly before turning his gaze on Harry. With an Eldunarí you could draw on its energy to cast spells that you wouldn't be able to cast otherwise and you will be able to communicate with the dragon inside at will if you are close enough to the Eldunarí. If you and I were on opposite sides of Alagaësia or even on different continents we would still be able to speak with each other.
"Oh my dragon," Harry said as he stood up and walked up to his bonded, where he promptly laid on his dragon's snout in a warm hug. He could easily figure out the dangers of an Eldunarí and the sheer amount of trust Scáth must have in Harry in order to disgorge his and give it to Harry.
There is more, Scáth said after several minutes of just enjoying the contact of Harry's hug. It meant a good deal to the dragon that Harry had ignored his Eldunarí and its potential power in favor of being with him. A shadow dragon's Eldunarí is not like any other. It does not simply contain the consciousness and energy of the dragon that disgorged it. Anyone who holds a Shadow Eldunarí is capable of wielding shadow magic, the very thing that gives us Shadow Dragons an edge against every other living thing. Even if the person holding the Eldunarí doesn't have the trust of the dragon inside would still be able to wield it. That is why these Eldunarí are so much more dangerous than any other and why no Shadow Dragon has ever disgorged their heart of hearts before. That coupled with the fact that our magic can make our heart of hearts look like anything we so desire makes a Shadow Eldunarí far more dangerous than other Eldunarí.
"Will you ever cease to amaze me?" Harry said fondly, still ignoring the object behind him.
Why would I do that? Scáth said, some amusement returning to his voice. Especially when your facial expressions are quite amusing to look at. Harry burst out laughing at that and it took him several minutes to calm down and form a response.
So, Harry said with amusement still lacing his voice. He sat down back down and reverently picked up the Eldunarí. Almost immediately he got flashes of Scáth's memories and thoughts. The thousands of images and words would've been disconcerting if Harry had not already been in constant contact with Scáth's mind. As it was, he merely sat there in silence for a few moments trying to find a balance. Eventually, the uncontrollable influx calmed with the help of Scáth and Harry could think again. You said that you could make your Eldunarí look like anything you want.
Yes, Scáth said as he buffeted Harry's hair with a puff of hot air. Anything inanimate anyways. Our heart of hearts cannot turn into anything living.
Harry grinned and sent Scáth an image. Scáth chuckled in amusement, seeing where Harry was going. The Eldunarí shimmered with a pulse of dark energy and it quickly shank in size. In a matter of moments the two foot long and two foot around gem was nothing more than a black diamond stud earring. Harry smiled as he took the earring and pierced his right ear with it and set it into place. A murmured spell later and his ear was completely healed. Another spell and the seemingly insignificant earring could never be removed by anyone but himself. A third spell had it so no one would be able to look at the earring without a great deal of concentration and focus.
Forever, Harry said with a smile as he laid a hand on Scáth's scaly cheek. The dragon hummed happily and they both settled down and started dealing with the ignorant Dark Lord.